Sacristans

Did you ever wonder how the Church is always set-up for the weekend Mass? Items for baptisms – holy oils, baptismal garment, candle, and certificate – are always in place and seats for the baptismal family are reserved, seats are reserved for the First Holy Communion family and the recipient’s certificate is set out, the altar candles always seem to light, and even the books that the presider will use to celebrate the Mass are in place. All of this is done by parishioners who participate in the Sacristan Ministry.

At St. Francis, the Sacristan’s general responsibilities are to help prepare and maintain the worship space and to have in-place the items needed by the presider to properly and prayerfully celebrate Mass and other liturgies, in a smooth and flowing manner. Preparation is the key to a prayerful celebration.

Typical Duties

Reserve seats for Baptismal, First Eucharist and Vocation Cross families

Ensure baptismal items are in-place, as needed

Ensure The Book of Intentions is in place for the start of Mass

Verify set-up of the altar for Mass

Verify there are a sufficient number of Altar Servers for Mass

Replace items after mass and set-up for the next Mass

Requirement for Ministry

Faithful Catholic who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation

Be at church before Mass to check set-up

Stay after Mass to reset items in preparation for the next Mass

For more information, or to become a Sacristan at St. Francis, please contact a coordinator noted above.

Saint Guy of Anderlecht – Patron Saint of Sacristans

Feast Day: September 12thSaint Guy was born at Anderlecht, a village near Brussels, in the tenth century. As a child he had two loves, the Church and the poor, and he wished to be himself among the poor. While still very young he visited and cared for the sick, and he was regarded by the villagers as a young SaintAs he grew older, Guy’s love of prayer increased in a prodigious manner. One day when he was praying in the church of Our Lady at Laeken, a short distance from Brussels, he manifested such devotion before Our Lady’s shrine that the priest, drawing him into conversation, asked him to stay and serve the Church. After this Guy?s great joy was to be constantly in the church, sweeping the floor, polishing the altars, and cleansing the sacred vessels. He spent entire nights in the church in prayer. By day he still found time and means to befriend the poor, so that his almsgiving became famous throughout the entire region. A merchant of Brussels, hearing of the generosity of this humble Sacristan, was prompted to go to Laeken and offer Guy a share of his business, telling him he would have the means thereby to give more to the poor. Guy had no desire to leave the church, but the offer seemed providential and he accepted it. The first ship bearing a cargo in which Guy had an interest, however, was lost, and he realized he had made a mistake. When he returned to Laeken, he found his place at the church filled. The rest of his life was one long penance for his inconstancy. For seven years he made pilgrimages of penance, visiting Rome and the Holy Land and other famous shrines. About the year 1012 he returned to Anderlecht. When he died in that same year, a light shone round him, and a voice was heard proclaiming his eternal reward. He was buried in the cemetery of the canons of Anderlecht.